To build or not to build

[unfrozen1969]

Here is my dilemma. I have two 1969 Mustangs, one a convertible and one coupe. They are both 302 cars. The coupe had deluxe interior as well as power steering and air conditioning. It is in reasonable shape, and requires new floors and rear rails. The convertible is in rough shape but most of the car is there. I was considering rebuilding the convertible using the coupe as a donor for parts. My wife thinks I would be better off selling them off as a pair.

My question is, should I part out the convertible and salvage the coupe? or do I build a convertible using the coupe as a donor, or do I sell them both?

I am a family guy with three children and a single income. I would like to clean up the coupe as good as I can, part out the convertible and put everything away in storage until I am financially able to tackle a project such as these. Your thoughts gentlemen, am I being naive?

Bill from Canada

[Infinity]

I am also a family guy on one income. Both of your cars look like they will need some serious work taking both time and money. If there is extra income, pick one and go for it. If there isn't the lure to play with cars might make it hard to make the right choice. My car is in good shape, but I have so many plans without the budget. Fortunately, my wife keeps me on a short leash :)

You know how you spend money and time. Can you allocate with the right priorities?

Josh

[bnickel]

Here is my dilemma. I have two 1969 Mustangs, one a convertible and one coupe. They are both 302 cars. The coupe had deluxe interior as well as power steering and air conditioning. It is in reasonable shape, and requires new floors and rear rails. The convertible is in rough shape but most of the car is there. I was considering rebuilding the convertible using the coupe as a donor for parts. My wife thinks I would be better off selling them off as a pair.

My question is, should I part out the convertible and salvage the coupe? or do I build a convertible using the coupe as a donor, or do I sell them both?

I am a family guy with three children and a single income. I would like to clean up the coupe as good as I can, part out the convertible and put everything away in storage until I am financially able to tackle a project such as these. Your thoughts gentlemen, am I being naive?

Bill from Canada

i will buy the chrome grill (it looks like a chrome grill, anyway) and the trailer hitch from the vert.

i'd guess the vert is probably thrashed so the coupe might be the better builder. i'd salvage as many of the good parts from whichever one and swap them to the other and then sell the carcass of the other. make sure you take EVERYTHING from the donor car, doors, fenders, hood, bumpers, interior, engine/trans, suspension, all the little nuts and bolts, EVERYTHING and save them for the other car. you never know what you might need once you start the resto, trust me.

BTW, i am serious about the grill (assumings it is the chrome one) and the trailer hitch, i need the hitch for my 69 cougar project.

[Pakrat]

I agree that it really is going to depend on your means, ability and budget. Restoring a car is no easy or cheap task by any means even when doing it completely yourself. I can't even imagine how you ended up with 2 cars and have yet to at least start to fix either one yet so I think it may be in your best interest to just let them both go.

[bnickel]

I agree that it really is going to depend on your means, ability and budget. Restoring a car is no easy or cheap task by any means even when doing it completely yourself. I can't even imagine how you ended up with 2 cars and have yet to at least start to fix either one yet so I think it may be in your best interest to just let them both go.


good points Pak, but he may have just gotten them as well.

[unfrozen1969]

Thank you for the good advice guys.

It is true, I did just get the cars, the convertible was being advertised and the coupe was in the lot with it, I made an offer on both, because how often do you get the opportunity to own two 69 Mustangs. The previous owner was going to rebuild the convertible with the coupe, but he has let them both sit (approx 15 years) without any attention. The cars have a lot of parts on them, and I am not prepared to start parting them out, yet. If I decide to sell, I would prefer to sell them as a pair and be done with it. I am trying to get them registered so that I have clear title, it has been a chore so far.

Thanks again

[Pakrat]

Well if that's the case then I think while it is not the easiest of the tasks, the convertible will by far exceed the coupe in overall value and sheer pleasure of driving in the end. Has this been a long time dream of yours like most of us? What is your budget and ability? If you just got them it sounds like it may have been without the wifes approval and if so then I may have to stand by my orignal assement. If she is already pushing to unload both of them then the strain of a several year long restoration if not more may be more than your household can bare.

[bnickel]

whether you decide to keep them or part them out or sell them outright i'd still very much like to buy at least the trailer hitch from you. :thumbup: good luck in whatever you decide

[unfrozen1969]

I have a lot to consider before I do anything.

As for the trailer hitch, I do not know if it is a period hitch from the sixties or not. You naybe able to tell by the photo. Will there be any distinguishing numbers on it etc. It is attached to the bumper, and depending on the rust, it may need to be ground off. Also, where would it need to be shipped to?

Bill from Canada

[bnickel]

I have a lot to consider before I do anything.

As for the trailer hitch, I do not know if it is a period hitch from the sixties or not. You naybe able to tell by the photo. Will there be any distinguishing numbers on it etc. It is attached to the bumper, and depending on the rust, it may need to be ground off. Also, where would it need to be shipped to?

Bill from Canada


doesn't matter if it's period correct or from u-haul, i just need the hitch so we can tow my wife's little boat with the cougar. it would need to be shipped to Lubbock, Tx. zip 79410. i would appreciate it a lot.

[unfrozen1969]

I was looking at the hitch and it is not as easy as just removing some bolts. The frame of the car is not well supported and I need to buy some more jacks that will enable me to get under the car. Upon doing that I can then determine how the hitch was attached to the underbody. I can see that it goes under the gas tank, but I can't see beyond that.

If this is possible, we would need to negotiate a price, and I would have to find out what postage is to Lubbock Texas, if thats where you live, to send it to you. No guarantees at the moment, as I am trying to get these cars registered first. I do not want to start parting the car out first until I can get them registered. Then I will sell them the way they are.

[bnickel]

I was looking at the hitch and it is not as easy as just removing some bolts. The frame of the car is not well supported and I need to buy some more jacks that will enable me to get under the car. Upon doing that I can then determine how the hitch was attached to the underbody. I can see that it goes under the gas tank, but I can't see beyond that.

If this is possible, we would need to negotiate a price, and I would have to find out what postage is to Lubbock Texas, if thats where you live, to send it to you. No guarantees at the moment, as I am trying to get these cars registered first. I do not want to start parting the car out first until I can get them registered. Then I will sell them the way they are.


no hurry, i don't even have the car at the house yet. do what you need to do first and we can work out the details later. PM me with a price and we can sort the shipping out later when you get everything sorted out. Thanks

[unfrozen1969]

I am new at this, what does "PM" mean?

[bnickel]

I am new at this, what does "PM" mean?


PM means private message. click on my username and you will get some options like send email, send private message, etc. or if you want you can send me an email to bnickel4@suddenlink.net

[Gazoo]

Unfrozen, here's my 2 cents for you. Have someone experienced in body work come look at the cars and determine how bad the cars are structurallly. This may make your decision for you.

Otherwise, my advice would be not to put money into the coupe, because even if you do turn it into a nice car, you'll never be able to get your money out of it. Plus it won't draw interest like the convertible will. You have a chance to get your money back out of the convertible some day, plus convertibles are rarer (esp. in frozen Canada) and everybody likes them.

If you're on a tight budget, don't attempt to go for a concours restoration because that stuff costs a fortune. Have some fun with it and do a restomod, you'll have a more enjoyable car that costs you less. Don't be afraid to repair/refinish parts instead of replacing them - you can save a lot of money this way.

You're fortunate to have a parts car - this will help you a lot. But the killer will be the body repair, and you'll have to be really honest with yourself about just how much work will need to be done and how much it will cost. Remember, they didn't call them Rustangs for nothing.

Regards
Gazoo

[unfrozen1969]

Thank you for your candor.

I appreciate the advice, and if I am unable o get these cars registered, they will be parts cars. It will at least allow me to keep the parts I want for future projects. My children love teh Mustangs as much as I do, and they have caught the bug, so any opportunity I have to teach them a thing or two along the way is priceless. Unfortunately the convertible is not restorable. I have to keep my eyes open for s fastback shell. Let me know if you see any in Calgary.

Bill from Ottawa.

[bnickel]

don't let anyone tell you not to build a coupe, while it's true you won't get a lot for one if you decide to sell but an original deluxe interior coupe that is not a Grande is kind of a rare beast, well maybe not really rare but certainly not common, i guess it depends on your definition of rare. now an original deluxe interior GT coupe is a rare car. for a look at what can be done to a coupe look in the galery and you'll see a few really nice ones.

here is mine, it is a true GT but not an original deluxe interior car.

http://www.1969stang.com/gallery/bnickel69gt

[coz]

Part them out, crush them and put them out of their misery. I know that's harsh and as a 69 Vert lover I would love to see another restored but face it - you'll never get close to breaking even. Not that breaking even is a consideration in most cases but I see those two as a hole where you will throw a LOT of money into. Too bad though - always hate to see one go but these two need to.... just my opinion. regardless, good luck!

[unfrozen1969]

Hello,

I am struggling with making a decision. I do not know what the possibility of selling these cars without clear title/ownership. They are parts cars, and I would very much enjoy taking them apart and selling off some parts and keeping what I think I need for the time when I get a viable project. So my question is, what parts do you keep, and what parts do you sell. It is my understanding that many of the parts between the coupe, convertible and fastback were interchangiable. So what parts are hard to find that I should take speacial car when dismantling if I decide to do that. For example, both cars have all of their glass. The convertible has a blue tint along the top of the front windshield. Is this stock, and is the glass worth anything, or can you buy new glass reasonably cheap? I was thinking of buying a sandblasting unit to restore the parts, is this worth my while or not?

Note the T-bar welded in front of the rad in the second photo which is welded to either fender, this car went through a rough restoration before parts were avaiable for it.

Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Bill from Canada

[bnickel]

oh man that vert is trashed bad. well i just another part or 2 i could use, the console is worth some money and i'd like to have that as well (provided it really is in pretty good shape) the steering wheel pad and the horn ring are worth saving and i could actually use the pad as well. the vert has a 351 cleveland and it's worth keeping or selling, the A/C dashpad looks decent with only a couple cracks and would make a decent driver piece and might be worth hanging onto. hang on to ALL of the wiring and ALL of the power steering stuff and all of the interior parts from from the coupe, i'd buy the door panels from you as well. any sheetmetal that is in decent shape needs to be kept, especially the front fener extensions/headlight buckets if the lower valance tabs are intact. basically i'd keep all of the interior from the coupe and most of what's left from the vert. if either car has a 9" rear you need to keep those as well and also if either car has a manual trans you need to keep the clutch pedal assemblies

[bnickel]

after looking again i'd say you need to keep both grills and all of the other bumpers, the bumpers appear to straight and though the chrome is shot they are good cores and some people would pay decent money for them, probably no more than $50 each but still any cash is good. keep all the glass, repro glass is expensive but don't worry too much with the windshields unless they are original Carlite windshields and are in really good shape. keep all of the window trim and especially the vinyl top trim on the sides but be careful removing them they have nuts holding them on inside 1/4 panels, which is the main reason you need to keep them, people have a tendancy to think they have push nuts or clips holding them on and end uop breaking the studs off the backside. ask me how i know that little tidbit of info, no actually don't ask :wink:

[bnickel]

i know that coupe needs a lot of work but it's a complete original car with a fairly rare interior option. you might want to get a Marti report for the coupe just to see how rare it actually is.

[bnickel]

ok one more, you see the woodgrain seat buttons on the coupe seats? you need to keep those even if you trash the rest of the interior, until recently those were not repro'd and teh repro's are about $70 for the set.

i'll update my want list from those cars now too, if you decide to part them out.

1: trailer hitch
2: chrome grill from the vert
3: door panels from the coupe
4: the console
5: horn pad from either car perferably black

[coz]

There ya go - part them out and list them on this and other mustang forums and you could get some $ and not worry about titles.

[unfrozen1969]

More pics for your liking...

Your thoughts.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

What can you tell me about my cars?

Is that a 9 inch rear end?

I am still trying to get the cars registered.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

How do I know whether I have a 351 or 302, where do I find the engine codes on the engine?

[bnickel]

ok, best i can tell here the vert is trashed completely and not worth saving. the coupe will need some work but is salvagable if you want to put in the work and the money. both cars have some good parts that could bring a little bit of cash in for you but not a whole lot. both cars have 8" rearends, the vert has a 351c which is good and the coupe has a 302 which is ok. both are automatic cars so no elusive (and expensive) clutch pedal setups. the coupe is a factory ac, power steering power brake car, which means it also has front disc brakes since power brakes was not an option for drums.

all in all i'd say the coupe is your best bet as a builder since it is a fairly rare and loaded combo (assuming it's not a grande), V8, automatic, power steering, power disc brakes, factory air and deluxe interior but i will need a ton of work to bring it back. the vert is too far gone to be anything but a parts car but does have some parts worth keeping.

the interior on the coupe is pretty well shot and will need to be completely replaced, everything including the door panels and upholstery. here in Texas it would also be considered a parts car but in the great white north it might be an acceptable project.


so all in all, i'd say you really have 2 parts cars (at least here in Texas) but the coupe has the potential to be a pretty nice car. if you decide to part them out i've got a pretty good list going already that will get you some cash back on them.

[bnickel]

How do I know whether I have a 351 or 302, where do I find the engine codes on the engine?

well i can tell just by looking the engine in the vert is a 351 cleveland and the engine in the coupe is a 302. the 351c did not come stock in any 69 models so someone swapped that one in. the only 351 available in 69 was the windsor.

[unfrozen1969]

What is the difference between the coupe and grande?

Photos from the Internet appear to show that they are the same car.

Bill

[bnickel]

What is the difference between the coupe and grande?

Photos from the Internet appear to show that they are the same car.

Bill


the Grande was an upscale package for the coupe that included the deluxe interior but with cloth inserts for the seats and special striping on the outside of the car, plus the sport mirrors, wire hubcaps, and extra sound deadening.

you could equip a regular coupe almost exactly like a Grande but only almost. the deluxe coupe was actually a fairly rare beast since most people just opted for the Grande but the Grande was a little more expensive becuase it included so much extra stuff.

[unfrozen1969]

From what you have said, I have a coupe, as the mirror on the doors are chomed andappear to be the stock type. The car is lime/gold in color with a white top, but does not have any stripping package, nor does it appear to have had any.

Are there are rolling 69 convert or fastback shells in Texas that aare worth while?

Bill

[bnickel]

From what you have said, I have a coupe, as the mirror on the doors are chomed andappear to be the stock type. The car is lime/gold in color with a white top, but does not have any stripping package, nor does it appear to have had any.

Are there are rolling 69 convert or fastback shells in Texas that aare worth while?

Bill


i don't know of any right off hand but i'll sure keep my eye out if you'd like. still, in my opinion i think the coupe could be put back together and be a nice car if you're willing to put some time and money into it, but it won't be cheap.

[Pakrat]

Definitely keep any of the vert specific parts to sell, many of them are not reproduced like the sun visor brackets and inner windshield moldings as well as those hockey sticks and center bar around the trunk/top enclosure.

[unfrozen1969]

Thank you for the tips.

Unfortunately alot of the chrome is pitted, but from what I can see everything is there. The convertible has a split rear window made of what appears to be real glass held at the seam with some apoxy of some sort. I don't know if this is original or not.

All of your advice has been well taken, and I thank you all very much.

Bill

[bnickel]

Thank you for the tips.

Unfortunately alot of the chrome is pitted, but from what I can see everything is there. The convertible has a split rear window made of what appears to be real glass held at the seam with some apoxy of some sort. I don't know if this is original or not.

All of your advice has been well taken, and I thank you all very much.

Bill


keep all of the chrome trim regardless of whether or not it's pitted or whatever, they can be replated and some guys have broken these things and can't find replacements, also keep the top frame and all the wiring as well.


basically what you need to do is remove everything that bolts, screws or is otherwise detachable from the cars, including wiring and trim pieces just be careful removing everything.

[unfrozen1969]

Once I have disassembled these parts, I have to determine a value for them. I do have a yearone catalogue and I can get a rough idea, but is there a recognized understanding for the value of original parts? ie: 75% of a new part, depending of course on the condition etc.

Also I guess it depend upon how rare a part is and whether any NOS or reproduction parts even exist. I would imagine that it is best to sell the parts "as is" rather than trying to clean them up myself, in case I damage them, etc.

I have sold some parts before where I receive payment first including postage and then I package everything up and send it off. That was 5 years ago, is this still the accepted practice today?

I need to be concerned that I don't sell off anything that I may want/need years from now.

I see that I have some homework to do before I start posting anything for sale.

[bnickel]

Once I have disassembled these parts, I have to determine a value for them. I do have a yearone catalogue and I can get a rough idea, but is there a recognized understanding for the value of original parts? ie: 75% of a new part, depending of course on the condition etc.

Also I guess it depend upon how rare a part is and whether any NOS or reproduction parts even exist. I would imagine that it is best to sell the parts "as is" rather than trying to clean them up myself, in case I damage them, etc.

I have sold some parts before where I receive payment first including postage and then I package everything up and send it off. That was 5 years ago, is this still the accepted practice today?

I need to be concerned that I don't sell off anything that I may want/need years from now.

I see that I have some homework to do before I start posting anything for sale.


going by what's in the catalogs may or may not work, also year one is EXTREMELY high on their parts i would look at getting a CJ pony catalog and a Mustangs Unlimited catalog and maybe even an NPD catalog as well. your best bet is to check this and other mustang forums and see what the parts are going for. for example the door panels, they are being reproduced and are pretty high but used ones don't bring a lot of money unless they are in really nice shape, i need them for cores for a project i'm planning on for my 69 cougar, i'm going to be trying to make a molded door panel for the cougar as cougars didn't come with molded door panel like the deluxe interior mustangs.

Ebay is a good source to get approximate pricing but parts on ebay can go way high if it's an especally rare or extremely nice part so it's not always the best gauge for pricing. look around the other forums and see what other people are paying for parts in roughly the same shape.

once you get the cars stripped the you need to sort them and clean them up as best you can but don't try to restore them because you'll never get enough to pay for your time, labor and materials. my recommendation is to wipe everything down with a nice soft cloth and some mild glass cleaner like Sprayway or similar....DON'T use windex or the like, it's too strong for some things, if in doubt leave it alone. you could also just use a damp soft cloth as well.

i'm serously interested in definitely the door panels, trailer hitch and console, the other stuff i'd like to have but can probably live without and i've ordered parts from Canada before so i don't have a problem with that most of the time. also some people aren't too worried about the condition of some parts because they'll be modifying them anyway, like me with the door panels and trailer hitch. the panels will be totally modified from stock and i'm not worried a bit about the condition of the vinyl as long they are intact and the parts attached are in decent shape, the hitch will most likely get painted because it's got rust on it and again i'm not terribly concerned with that, black painted will be fine with me, however i want a pretty nice console for the cougar so i'll pay decent for one.

BTW, i'm probably one of maybe 2 or 3 people in the entire world that are the leats bit interested in the hitch LOL.

[Gazoo]

Bill,

Judging from your comments and questions, I figure you're sort of new to the restoration biz. My advice would be to consider both of these to be parts cars and look for something more solid to begin with. The money you spend on a decent roller will likely pay back later by not having to reconstruct the entire car from rusted pieces plus you won't be as likely the be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the job and get discouraged. Plus disassembling the parts cars will teach you much about how the cars are built and help you do a better job on your good car.

As to what to keep, my advice is simply to keep everything that isn't wrecked. Trim can be repolished or replated, plastic interior pieces can be redyed, brackets welded and sandblasted and repainted, wiring and gauges repaired, seats repaired/recovered etc. etc. Keep all nuts, bolts, clips, everything and put them in baggies when they are removed so you know what they are for. You can send out the whole shebang later to be cad plated as a bulk batch and every piece will look like new.

Contact local Mustang clubs in your area and ask about non-running cars for sale. They are out there - but you've generally got to track them down as the owners typically aren't trying to sell them. You might think that spending good money on a non-running wreck is crazy, but it's not if the car is in decent shape. Body work is EXPENSIVE unless you do it yourself.

Hope this gives you something to consider. Good luck in your search.

Gazoo

[unfrozen1969]

Well guys, I have decided to strip these cars. I will be keeping a fair number of the parts for myself that I think I may need someday, as long as I have storage space for them.

The biggest question is when will I do this. I have to be cognizant of the two engines that will have to be pulled, as well as the fluids associated with them.

I will keep you appraised of my progress, as I am sure there will be some questions upon the stripping of these cars.

On a positive note, I happened to locate a 1969 Fastback GT 4 spd with a 351 Windsor. There is no motor or tranny, but the car has new floors and the rear quarters have all been re-done. I have asked for photos, and may go take a look at it. The GT is somewhat rare with only 4973 produced from my understanding. I believe that it is in primer and is only a rolling chassis. I maybe able to salvage a good quantity of parts from my cars for this one. The seller asking $7500.00 Cdn, and I maybe able to get him down a bit. I have a place to store such a car if I bought it, but I will have to wait and see. One thing at a time.

Thank you guys for your advice, you have lived up to the integrity of this website.

Bill in Ottawa

(PS: It was 5 degrees celcius this morning, that's 40F for my friends to the south)

[bnickel]

Well guys, I have decided to strip these cars. I will be keeping a fair number of the parts for myself that I think I may need someday, as long as I have storage space for them.

The biggest question is when will I do this. I have to be cognizant of the two engines that will have to be pulled, as well as the fluids associated with them.

I will keep you appraised of my progress, as I am sure there will be some questions upon the stripping of these cars.

On a positive note, I happened to locate a 1969 Fastback GT 4 spd with a 351 Windsor. There is no motor or tranny, but the car has new floors and the rear quarters have all been re-done. I have asked for photos, and may go take a look at it. The GT is somewhat rare with only 4973 produced from my understanding. I believe that it is in primer and is only a rolling chassis. I maybe able to salvage a good quantity of parts from my cars for this one. The seller asking $7500.00 Cdn, and I maybe able to get him down a bit. I have a place to store such a car if I bought it, but I will have to wait and see. One thing at a time.

Thank you guys for your advice, you have lived up to the integrity of this website.

Bill in Ottawa

(PS: It was 5 degrees celcius this morning, that's 40F for my friends to the south)


gotta love a GT. my coupe is also a GT, 351w 4V, auto, ps, pdb, AC. was my first car too, i've had it for going on 24 years now. if the GT is nice enough, buy it. you have a good collection of parts to use on it.

[Gazoo]

Bill, a fastback GT is a good catch, especially a 4spd. They are quite rare (by Mustang standards). Again, if you have a friend who knows bodywork, take him along. You don't want to have to re-do any of the previous work if it was done poorly. Go over it very carefully looking for rust, and check the fit of any replaced body panels, and how the trunk fits to the new quarter panels. Also check the top of the engine compartment aprons for rust where the seams overlap near the shock tower tops.

As for price, you could easily spend the $7500 on bodywork alone, so the price isn't out to lunch, as long as it is done well.

Good luck.

[unfrozen1969]

The car has had all new floors and rear quarters done. It is a base rolling shell, no motor, tranny, no doors or front quarters. I have yet to go see it as I am awaiting photos as it is in a different city.
The price is hopifully something that can be negotiated upon. I will let you know how it goes.

Thank you for the advice, it is always well appreciated and received.

bill

[unfrozen1969]

Some of these parts were in the trunk.

[unfrozen1969]

here are some more parts

[unfrozen1969]

that last bit for the day...

Some of the parts are foreign to me, so if you know what they are, please feel free to share.

Bill

[bnickel]

you've got a veritable treasure trove of parts there, though i don't a lot of that stuff is worth much, the vert glass window should be worth something though. the yellow sport mirrors look they are a from a 70 cougar and i see some other cougar parts as well, door handles, trim pieces, etc. i'd be interested in those mirrors as well if they are for a cougar.

[bnickel]

there is a transmission valve body there that looks like just plain junk. looks like it's for a c4 possibly. heck, someone may want it but i doubt it.

[unfrozen1969]

It took all day but here is the hitch.

[Pakrat]

Not to say that alot of the stuff on this site isn't overpriced a little, but this guy has many cars parted out so maybe it can help you judge and identify several of your items and at least give you some idea of how to price them.

http://www.1969stang.com/mustang/forum/showthread.php?t=2421

[unfrozen1969]

Here are some photos of the centre console. It has a few cracks in it, but otherwise is all there. It is dark green which goes with the interior seats.
I am contemplating keeping it as it appears that this is an expensive option to have.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

The rear end is out/off. The second photo shows the color best, what is this color called?

[bnickel]

yeah that's cool, i'd probably pass on the console anyway, i've got a spare one that's in about the same shape as that one but i'v repaired it with fiberglass. the glass actually works really well and you'd be hard pressed to notice the cracks from outside the car.

[bnickel]

it's kinda hard to tell from the angle of the pic but that could be a 9 inch rear in the vert. can you get a more straight on shot of it or maybe a pic from the front? or is the rearend pic earlier in the thread the rearend from the vert? if it is it's an 8" rearend.

[unfrozen1969]

I took some more photos of the rearend to see if it a 9 inch or not.

bill

[bnickel]

nope it's an 8" sorry to get your hopes up.

[Jay H 237]

Save the convertible top frame and all the hardware for it. They aren't being reproduced and if you don't want to keep it I'm sure someone out there would want it.

[unfrozen1969]

My best intentions is to try to salvage everything, and sell them off. A convertible top can be hard to store, but I will figure something out.

Thanks for your comments.

Bill

[russ69coupe]

Bill, if you don't mind, where are you located(roughly)?
I will be looking for some stuff in the near future to buy.
Thanks,
Russ

[unfrozen1969]

Hello Russ

I live in the south end of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I am one hour from the state of New York, about 3-4 hours from Syracuse, NY, 4-5 hours from Toronto.

Bill

[my69mach]

Bill,
I haven't been on this site in ages, so thank you for letting me know where the pictures are.
I think you are doing the right thing by parting them out. The 69/70 years are one of the most expensive to restore.
I hope it works out for you with the 69 GT. My buddy has one but it's an auto.
Martin

[unfrozen1969]

Bryan,

I sent you a PM about the parts.

Bill

[bnickel]

Bryan,

I sent you a PM about the parts.

Bill

k, i'll look it over.

[unfrozen1969]

I am slowly getting parts from this car, some of the removal has been challenging.

[unfrozen1969]

and more

[unfrozen1969]

and

[unfrozen1969]

Upon removing the layers, revealed more and more rust...

[bnickel]

man, that poor old vert just makes me sad. that poor car looks like it's been sitting up the bottom of the doors in the ocean for the last 20 years.

the coupe really, still doesn't look that bad though. new floors, quarters and rear frame rails and it would probably be a decent car again. you know for some guys in the mid-west and on the east coast that car is what they'd call an easy project.

[unfrozen1969]

You are just teasing me aren't you. I have considered puttting the car back to sellable condition, but I probably wouldn't get as muc out as I put in. I will see what the Spring holds. I want to get the convertible done before winter.

Bill

[bnickel]

You are just teasing me aren't you. I have considered puttting the car back to sellable condition, but I probably wouldn't get as muc out as I put in. I will see what the Spring holds. I want to get the convertible done before winter.

Bill


no, i'm not teasing you. i still think you should at least get the marti report and see how many are equipped like yours, you might be very surprised. while it's true that a coupe will never be worth as much as a fastback and you might not get your money back if you try to sell it but if you want a nice cruiser and aren't worried about resale value, at least in the next 5 years or so, then it just might be worth fixing. if you just want to flip it and make a quick buck then no, don't fix it. i guess it really depends on what you want out of it.

take a few more pics of the underside, front and back, and post them up and let us see how bad it really is. if it needs front and rear frame rails, both quarters, trunk floor, trunk drop offs, torque boxes and pretty much everything else then it's probably not worth trying to save, if the front frame rails are in decent shape and the rest of the body, like the cowl, doors and fenders, rocker panels are in decent shape it really might be worth trying to save. i'm just one of those guys that hates to see a fairly well optioned car die at the hands of the crusher, if i only had the money to save the ones i find.

my car had a bit of rust in it as well, not near the extent yours did but there was quite a bit of patching that took place to get the body in nice shape. most of mine was under the vinyl top though, from the car living outside all it's life in houston but we did have to do the normal patches around the rear wheelwells and the lower quarter on the passenger side too.

[unfrozen1969]

I will try to post some photos today. There is a fair amount of body work and frame rail work to be done, but the car appears to be solid otherwise. The benefit is that I have some parts form the convertible that can be transfered over to the coupe. The 351 in the convertible is a fresher engine, and is obviously not an original motor, but it may be repairable. I have two interiors and an assortment of other parts as well.

I have been pondering building a driver. The vinyl roof would have to come of as the top is splitting from the rust. My other problem is getting the car registered. I will have to work with the previous owner some more to get it done. I will also try to get the marti report as well. I will most likely think about over the winter and see what the Spring has to offer.

Pics soon to come.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

These are the pics from the 69 coupe. It is in pretty rough shape, and is most likely salvagiable, only taking time and money. It would be a big job, and it maybe wise for me to get this car together with allof the necessary parts for someone else to restore.

[unfrozen1969]

The frame rails need to be replaced both front and back. The rear leaf spring is through the trunk, and I can put my finger through the rail in the front.

[unfrozen1969]

and more pics

[unfrozen1969]

As you can see, someone tried to restore this car back in the day when parts were not re-manufactured. The worst case scenario is that this car becomes a project car for my son and I for when he is able to drive. He is currently 9 years old.

Do not get me wrong, I am in this for the purpose of owning a mustang. My goal in my life is to have three mustangs, one for each of my children. They are getting good at spotting cars on the road, and my 4 year old girl calls any old muscle car a mustang. Mustangs are far and few between up here, there are alot of Mopars in lieu. My opinion around parting out a car is not to make money per se, as there are better ways to do that, I feel that I am helping others with their projects by providing parts for them. If I were to restore this coupe, I too would be in the same boat as others, and maybe looking for parts.

Anyways, let me know your opinion and thoughts. I am in no hurray and I am enjoying being a Mustang owner for what it is worth. Send pics of your coupe for me.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

How do I take out the steering column, chrome around the windshield on the convertible, take off a door panel? I have tried taking off the steering wheel, got the large nut removed form the center, but the thing won't budge, is there anything else that I need to do to get it off. I am affraid of damaging something.

Bill

[R4K]

Maybe a steering wheel puller / damper puller?

[bnickel]

ok, i change my position on the coupe, it's a parts car. it could be rebuilt but there is so much bad metal i'm not sure there's enough good metal left to weld new metal too. that's too bad because that is a nicely optioned car; v8, automatic, ps, pdb, ac, deluxe interior coupe.

you'll need a steering wheel puller to get the wheel off, or you can leave the wheel attached to the column and pull the entire column. there are 2 bolts right under the dash and 4 more (i think) on the firewall and then another 2 at the steering gear box.

[Pakrat]

How do I take out the steering column, chrome around the windshield on the convertible, take off a door panel? I have tried taking off the steering wheel, got the large nut removed form the center, but the thing won't budge, is there anything else that I need to do to get it off. I am affraid of damaging something.

Bill

The chrome around the windshield is actually stainless steel, remove the screws from the top and side piece inside the door jamb and then the bottom strip is clipped in and will pop right out.

I really don't think it's worth saving that coupe either, it's way far gone. If you do part it out I may be interested in the center dash ashtray/lighter unit.

[burritoboi5]

I just noticed your reply on my project thread and hope I can chime in something here that will be helpful. Being in Canada is obviously something that makes this hobby more exspensive and difficult than for me. But it also as you said increases the desireability of a mustang when you're all done and it's on the road.

Since your standpoint is not to turn a proft but rather create an heirloom it puts you in a different position than one based simply on the financial aspect. My personal opinion is this....

If you can find another coupe with less rust, even if it's a stripped shell. Then drop in the 351 and restomod the hell of out it so it's a fun reliable car that is based more on performance than cruising. With the options you have on you coupe and vert you already are ahead of the game. Disc brakes/351 displacement piece that one together in time for your son to drive, and most likely much sooner. The only thing to slow you down would be money.

Then if you really want to save one the two cars try and save the vert......I realize it is rusted to hell.......but you have no time limit on when it needs to be ready by. In that case drop in a stockish 302 auto trans and have it be a nice cruiser. I just went for a ride in a buddy of mines 65 vert that his dad just bought this past week. Has a 289 with a 4 speed and the dual exhaust plus open air made that car AWESOME. No one will argue that the vert isn't a more desirable car on those hot summer days.

I'm also not sure of your ability to perform mech duties. I.E. welding/rebuilding the engine. But if you say you are incapable then I'm goin to call bullshit right now. With the time frame you have there is every reason in the world that you should be able to learn as you go. And teach your son at the same time, not only will he appreciate it but he can help out too especially once he's older.

I think that without a doubt you should start a stang project, but I would hate to see you get turned off on this whole thing becuase you select an overly challenging first car. Repairing the rust on the coupe and the vert would alone take about a year on my work schedule and be very tiresome after the first month. It's not that I'm saying those cars aren't worth saving. But if you are looking for a fun car to drive, and not worried about resale then you may be better off finding a slightly more solid car to start with like a coupe or something.

In any case you should make sure you're doing this because you enjoy it, it seems to me that, that is your motivation. And I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

Hell if I can do it, anybody can :shifty:

[unfrozen1969]

Do I know you?

You have hit the nail on the head. I am doing this because I love it, and to be honest, I am a poor mustang lover. I was fortunate to stumble upon these two cars at a good price. I have parted out a 73 convertible mustang before as I was doing a body off resto on a 72 convertible at the time. What I did wrong there, was that I jumped in too soon and stripped a solid car down for rebuild, and then had no money or space to finish the job. If I had only stored that car and collected parts until I was ready, I would have been ahead of the game. So that is where I am now. I am saving the parts that I think I need, and hopifully sell off a few to make my money back. All the while have a hoot of time doing it and teaching my son along the way. Someone has to pass on this Mustang Bug.

I am really thankful for this site and guys like you who are willing to "say it as it is", because it goes to the grain of who we are as Mustang enthusiasts. I have my eye on a few shells around but they are not cheap. I am always looking and I will have one someday soon.

Regards,

Bill

[burritoboi5]

I am doing this because I love it, and to be honest, I am a poor mustang lover.

Well Bill so long as that's the reason you're doing it then you're bound to have a good time with whatever car you end up building. Where in Canada are you anyways? I could try and keep an eye on the internet listings for you.

[unfrozen1969]

I am in Ottawa, which is an hour away from Montreal, about 3-4 hours from Syracuse. I woud appreciate knowing of any potential prospects that you see. I have seen a few here and in the Toronto region, but were way out of my price range.

I purposely drive country roads and try to see behind barns and in fields waiting to find that 69 shelby or Boss that is looking for a new home....it amazes me what people have stowed away in their barns...

Regards,

Bill

[burritoboi5]

I actually got my car about an hour outside of syracuse.

[bnickel]

hi Bill, sorry to get your hopes up on the coupe but from those first pics you posted it didn't look nearly as bad as it really is but to be honest if you had the time and the money you could bring both of those cars back from the grave but it really wouldn't be worth the time or especially the money, but i have seen people save cars in worse shape. the problem is that those cars were extremely rare one of a very, very few cars like it. one of them was one of the first 20 or so 68-1/2 428CJ cars and i believe it was fully loaded GT coupe with floor and roof consoles and everything, it was worth saving and worth the time and money to save it.

you wanted to see some pics of my car, well click the link below and check out my gallery, the latest pics are on the last page. i've been promising these guys some new pics of the car all cleaned up and not being rained on for a while now but i've been having too much fine driving it to get any new pics.


http://www.1969stang.com/gallery/bnickel69gt

[Gazoo]

Bill,
You're doing the right thing by parting these two tired ponies out. Bnickel is right, with enough time, patience, effort and money (especially money) you can save virtually any car, but why bother unless it is something rare? You'll drive yourself nuts and chances are the project will not turn out as well as you like, if you manage to finish it at all. Spend the money you would have spent on patching these cars up on a more solid car and in the long run you'll be miles ahead. Good luck.

[bnickel]

Bill,
You're doing the right thing by parting these two tired ponies out. Bnickel is right, with enough time, patience, effort and money (especially money) you can save virtually any car, but why bother unless it is something rare? You'll drive yourself nuts and chances are the project will not turn out as well as you like, if you manage to finish it at all. Spend the money you would have spent on patching these cars up on a more solid car and in the long run you'll be miles ahead. Good luck.


well, i can tell you for sure that the coupe is kind of an oddity and pretty well loaded for a coupe too. i still recommend ordering the Marti report for the coupe before you put it out to pasture completely and crush it. go ahead and part it out, there really isn't anything so rare on it that it can located fairly easily but don't crush the shell just yet, you might fnd out this is one of only handful of similarly equipped cars and someone might want to resurrect it, even if it's not you.

[unfrozen1969]

Just as a precaution I will get a Marti report done on line. The car is sitting fine where it is, and if it truly is a rare vehicle, then it can sit some longer until I decide what to do with it. Unlike the convertible which is in the shape of a "V", with the doors holding it together.

Does the Marti report come electronically or through the mail?

I will let you know how it goes.

Bill

[bnickel]

Just as a precaution I will get a Marti report done on line. The car is sitting fine where it is, and if it truly is a rare vehicle, then it can sit some longer until I decide what to do with it. Unlike the convertible which is in the shape of a "V", with the doors holding it together.

Does the Marti report come electronically or through the mail?

I will let you know how it goes.

Bill


snail mail.

[unfrozen1969]

Hey Bryan,

Here a the pics of the door panels, send me a PM if they are okay.

Bill

[bnickel]

yeah that will be fine. thanks for the pics.

[unfrozen1969]

Hello guys,

I have a question about testing whether my convertible top pump is functional. When I removed it from the car, there was fluid in the lines. I am unsure whether I can connect some power to it to see if it functions?

Secondly, how do I remove the chrome from the front bottom part of the windshield? Are there bolts under the front cowl?

Bill

[bnickel]

not sure on the pump, but you should be able to hook it up to a 12v source and at least see if the motor operates.

on the trim there should be 7 or 8 screws under the cowl that hold the lower trim on.

[unfrozen1969]

My question is, how do I get under the cowl, fromthe dash board side?

Bill

[Pakrat]

No, you remove the grated section behind the hood where the wipers come out from. Raise the hood and you'll see the screws, there's like 7 or so of them.

[bnickel]

No, you remove the grated section behind the hood where the wipers come out from. Raise the hood and you'll see the screws, there's like 7 or so of them.



exactly, you'll have to remove the wiper arms as well.

[unfrozen1969]

I have looked at those wiper arms, and I don't see any means of getting them off, do I just pull, or is there some special technique.

Sorry for all the questions, this car is like a puzzle, thank god I am taking it apart and not having to put it back together.

The more and more I look at the coupe the more I want to resurrect it someday. The deciding factor maybe the Marti report.

Bill

[Protowrxs]

Should be a small retainer spring where the shaft is. Kind of like a J shape if I remember correctly that hooks under the splined area. A small screwdriver twisted in behind it should release it as you pull the arm up and off.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... it's been too many years since I pulled mine the last time.
-Stephen

[unfrozen1969]

Here is an interesting site of a 69 rebuild. Note the jig he used for the front rails.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/classicstang/June_2005.html

[burritoboi5]

Yep...He's a member.

Here's the jig I kinda used.....
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/burritoboi5/DSC_0087.jpg

Right up untill I kep cutting myself on it and got pissed off....little bastard scared me.....
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/burritoboi5/DSC_0050.jpg

[unfrozen1969]

That's a wild jig.

I received my Marti Report for the coupe that I have. How significant is the number 94 in the stats for the cars with these paint/trim codes?

Any comments would be great.

Bill

[bnickel]

94 with this paint and trim codes is a significantly low number. i knew it wouldn't have very many brothers and sisters, the deluxe coupe is fairly rare especially the white deluxe interior cars. i definitelly think this is worthy of a future restoration, it likely still won't be worth a whole bunch but that 94 production status is low enough to boost the value a bit.

i'm actually kinda glad i've been so adamant about telling you that it was worth at least getting the report, now i'm pretty certain that even though the car is rough it's a good candidate for resurrection from the boneyard. congrats, though you do have a long road ahead of you in the resto, if you decide to tackle it.

[bnickel]

btw, it's a fairly early production date as well. even earlier than mine, which is a november built car. i would put the car back pretty much stock but you can make a few small modifications if you'd like. stuff like adding the center console, a set of styled steel (GT style) wheels with the plain hubcaps, dual exhaust and maybe a 4 barrell instake and carb won't hurt the value of the car as long as you keep the original parts you still have for sometime in the future.

[unfrozen1969]

Nice 2007 Mustang in the new Transformer movie. Unfortunately they relied upon a Chevy for the main character, I think a 69 Mustang would have been better.

[unfrozen1969]

If I have a VIN number but the door tag information is no longer available, will a Marti report be able to provide me the door tag details so that I can determine the options for this car?

Bill from Ottawa

[bnickel]

yes he can. you can even buy a reproduction door data plate as well with the correct stampings.

[SparkyGT]

good luck with your project, seems the bodywork is the most expensive, im getting a bit of flack locally for deciding to cut up my 70 coupe for parts, to get a few needed pieces for my 69, so i would say do up the rarest car. was out in montreal last month and didnt see any old stangs. :(

[bnickel]

good luck with your project, seems the bodywork is the most expensive, im getting a bit of flack locally for deciding to cut up my 70 coupe for parts, to get a few needed pieces for my 69, so i would say do up the rarest car. was out in montreal last month and didnt see any old stangs. :(


i just don't think the grande was in bad enough shape to cut up for a rocker panel. no offense but, i'd love to have the m-code grande, personally

[SparkyGT]

i did buy it as a parts car to begin with, but hadnt planned cutting it at all, i hit a deadline as the bodywork on my 69 got pushed up 7 months ahead of time, im goona keep it around after the rocker gets removed. have way to many projects with a 66 coupe also in need of resto,which isnt as rare as the m code. but the girlfriend loves the 66 more than the 70 for her project. have previously found a 69 r code fastback out in a field that has been hit hard in right front, might deal on that for later

and im sure unfrozen would like the 70 m code coupe also

i will try to minimize damage upon removal of parts if possible.

[SELLERSRODSHOP]

TOO BAD YOU GUYS AREN'T NEAR ME. THERE IS A 69 SPORTSROOF ABOUT 2 MI. FROM MY HOUSE THAT IS VERY SAVEABLE FOR 2k. NEEDS SOME FLOORPAN WORK & THE WHOLE TRUNK FLOOR, BUT THE GUY HAS ALL THE REPLACEMENT PANELS FOR THE TRUNK AREA. THE FLOORS WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD, BUT HE LET IT SET OUTSIDE FOR A FEW YEARS WITH THE CARPET & PAD STILL IN THE CAR & AS WATER GOT IN, STAYED SOAKED UP IN THE PAD & AS A RESULT THE FLOORS ARE REALLY SOFT NOW. I THOUGHT ABOUT BUYING IT FOR A FEW BOLT ON PARTS I'LL NEED, BUT REALLY DON'T NEED ANOTHER BODY SITTING AROUND UNTIL I CAN RESELL.

[bnickel]

i did buy it as a parts car to begin with, but hadnt planned cutting it at all, i hit a deadline as the bodywork on my 69 got pushed up 7 months ahead of time, im goona keep it around after the rocker gets removed. have way to many projects with a 66 coupe also in need of resto,which isnt as rare as the m code. but the girlfriend loves the 66 more than the 70 for her project. have previously found a 69 r code fastback out in a field that has been hit hard in right front, might deal on that for later

and im sure unfrozen would like the 70 m code coupe also

i will try to minimize damage upon removal of parts if possible.


i just think the M-code Grande would be a great resto project for someone is all. i guess as long as it doesn't get cut up any more it'll be ok. i guess it just pains me to see a car that is basically in really nice shape get cut up for parts. i'm not knocking you at all, i've cut up a couple cars in my time as well but they were super plain jane 6 cylinder cars, one had a 302 transplanted but it was a terrible car under the cheapo paint job, it had both quarters replaced and not very well at all, there was a good 1/2" of bondo in a lot of places and the roof was solid bondo over rust. needless to say i didn't feel bad parting that one out or the other one either since it was in worse shape.

[jordan]

whether you decide to keep them or part them out or sell them outright i'd still very much like to buy at least the trailer hitch from you.

[bnickel]

whether you decide to keep them or part them out or sell them outright i'd still very much like to buy at least the trailer hitch from you.


i've already got dibs on it. that reminds me i need to email Bill.

[Pakrat]

i've already got dibs on it. that reminds me i need to email Bill.

Lol, you fell for it too, those were your words exactly from the post on page one.:whistling: I guess you saw my other post though and banned the bot already.

[bnickel]

Lol, you fell for it too, those were your words exactly from the post on page one.:whistling: I guess you saw my other post though and banned the bot already.


what other post? i got an email from you about the bot but i guess Ben or Eric beat me to it.

[unfrozen1969]

As you can see from the photos, Winter has arrived and any work on the Mustangs has halted until Spring.

Bill from Ottawa

[bnickel]

ahh, once again the great white north lives up to it's reputation

[Pakrat]

what other post? i got an email from you about the bot but i guess Ben or Eric beat me to it.

The one in Burrito Boi's progress thread. So you guys actually get those emails when I report a bogus post eh, hunh, go figure.

BTW unfrozen1969, you really shouldn't leave your cars out in that kind of weather, they'll rust.:whistling:

[bnickel]

The one in Burrito Boi's progress thread. So you guys actually get those emails when I report a bogus post eh, hunh, go figure.

BTW unfrozen1969, you really shouldn't leave your cars out in that kind of weather, they'll rust.:whistling:


yeah i get about 4 or 5 a day some days from various people, plus the ones nonbody reports as well. i've started leaving my mod console page up whenever i'm on the board just so i can delete the spam and ban people, strangely though it's not as fun as it used to be.:huh:

[bswor]

Sadly thats the first thing i do is skim through the forums looking for spam, right after i check my email and see multiple emails from pakrat pointing to several.

Frozen are you going to build some shelter for them or at least for the one you plan on building?

[bnickel]

Sadly thats the first thing i do is skim through the forums looking for spam, right after i check my email and see multiple emails from pakrat pointing to several.

Frozen are you going to build some shelter for them or at least for the one you plan on building?


i don't think it will really hurt either one of them too badly to spend another winter outside :whistling: seriously though you should at least get a tarp over the coupe to keep as much rain and snow off the interior as possible, unless you put the interior inside, i hope anyway.

[Pakrat]

Sadly thats the first thing i do is skim through the forums looking for spam, right after i check my email and see multiple emails from pakrat pointing to several.

Frozen are you going to build some shelter for them or at least for the one you plan on building?

So that's how that little (!) icon at the bottom corner works, I wasn't really sure where it went or how, just noticed that within 24 hours of reporting them that they disappeared.

[R4K]

So that's how that little (!) icon at the bottom corner works, I wasn't really sure where it went or how, just noticed that within 24 hours of reporting them that they disappeared.

You had a Pixie Dust theory going on, didn't ya? :tongue_smilie:

[Pakrat]

You had a Pixie Dust theory going on, didn't ya? :tongue_smilie:

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo. :blush:

http://i-love-disney.com/disney-gallery/albums/Clipart/peterpan/sprinkle.gif

[unfrozen1969]

Hey,

I thought of tarping the cars, but figured the wind would just tear them off over the Winter. The interiors are out and are in my attic. (See photos) I had my wife help haul the seats up the ladder, she was really impressed, and I quote, "You know, not every wife would do this for you".....and yes I owe her. I may consider bringing the coupe back to life, but figure another winter would not hurt too much, and currently it is a great place for the kids to store their toboggans (sleds).

Bill from Wintery Ottawa...

.:tank:

[bnickel]

yeah, i doubt another winter in the snow is going to hurt either one of them very much.

[unfrozen1969]

Hello gentlemen,

I have been able to pruchase a donor chassis for my convertible. It is an original 6 cylinder car, but the motor is no long available. I will be recieving the car in the Spring and will be working on collecting and documenting the parts that I have until I can afford to rebuild her. I was thinking of building a GT convertible clone with a 390, but have not yet decided. I have also not picked a color, so many decisions. It is originally yellow as you can see by the doors.

Attached are some of the photos of the new car and my existing car under even more snow.

I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Mustang Holiday.

Regards,

Bill from Ottawa

[bnickel]

hey Bill nice find, you need to put that puppy in primer and store it inside for the winter for sure. congrats on the find. so are you still thinking of rebuilding the coupe or have you decided against it?

[unfrozen1969]

Hello Bryan

The coupe was just something I stumbled upon and I think that I will just sit on it, seeing that it is worthy of a restoration. I have always had a softspot for convertibles, so upon getting this car solid and primed I will be storing it and collecting parts until the day when I an financially ready to rebuild her.

Do you know of where I could find a complete listing with part numbers of all of the parts that go into a 69 convertible. I stumbled across one while surfing once, but can no longer locate it. I have years of cleaning, restoring, and trading of parts before putting all of the pieces together.

Bill

[bnickel]

you could get one of the exploded parts manuals but i think it covers more than just mustangs. i have seen a crash parts list on ebay before, however.

[unfrozen1969]

I have been pondering the color Ithink that I want, and I like the original color of yellow. It is actually (W - Meadowlark Yellow) and looks quite nice as in the photo below.

I will have to have a Marti report done on the car.

Bill

[Jay H 237]

I have been pondering the color Ithink that I want, and I like the original color of yellow. It is actually (W - Meadowlark Yellow) and looks quite nice as in the photo below.

I will have to have a Marti report done on the car.

Bill


It'll be interesting to see what the Marti report says. I see the car has the holes in the doors for stereo speakers, if it originally had the AM-FM then that would be a rather unique car.

[Pakrat]

Good luck on the new find. I have to say though, you are the first person I know who can make a statement like "when I am financially ready" on the same thread that they talk about buying their third car now, lol.:tongue_smilie:

As for a parts list I don't think you will really truly find one that covers everything but the shop manuals will help make sense of it all and I am sure I can help answer just about any convertible specific question you come across as the years pass.

[unfrozen1969]

Well here's the story, I had to do quite a selling job with my wife to allow me to find the cash to purchase this rollingshell. I am into all three cars for a very reasonable cost. What I meant about being financially sound is that when I have 10-15K available to build the car the proper way. In the meantime I will be cleaning and buying the parts I need until that day arrives. I am in no hurry, and have to try to be patient. My biggest fear about not buying this rolling chassis now is that when I could possibly afford to buy a Mustang (10-15 years from now) I may not be able to afford to do so. So at least now I have the car and a good list of parts for assembly, and now the fun begins.

[unfrozen1969]

Happy New Year to my fellow Mustangers.

I have been watching the Barrett-Jackson Auctions and there have not been too many 1969 Mustangs. I have yet to see a convertible or coupe, and I am hopeful that one breaks the ranks.

Bill

[bnickel]

that was last years auctions you've been watching, just FYI. this years stuff starts on the 15th, you can check out what's in the catalog by going to www.barrett-jackson.com (http://www.barrett-jackson.com)

[unfrozen1969]

Thanks for letting me know.

Bill

[bnickel]

no biggie, i was a little confused myself when i started watching last night, then i realized it was last years auction.

[Pakrat]

As far as last years auction goes there was a LOT #50 early on which was a 69 Mustang Boss 302 (looking) Custom Convertible that sold for a ridiculous $40K+ and it was IMHO pretty fugly. I didn't like any of the so called custom aspects of the car and I am pretty sure it had a regular 302 motor under the hood as well. It gave me high hopes on what my custom car might be worth when it's finished though.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/88060397_bd096e5468.jpg

The car to watch this year though in 08 will be Carrol Shelby's personal 69' Convertible. Should be a record breaker for it's class.

[bnickel]

did you guys see the yellow cougar eliminator that sold for $117,000? it seems like all the cars that have torg thrust wheels are bringing big money. the "boss" vert, the eliminator and there were a few others with TT-II's that brought more money than i though they should have.

anyone want to trade some e'brock 454's for a set of torg thrusts? :surrender:

[unfrozen1969]

Do you guys know how much a rolling shell would weigh without a motor or trans.

I need to know if my mini-van could tow the car and trailer it is on. My GVW is 3500lbs.

Bill

[bnickel]

well with no motor or trans probably around 26-2800 maybe less without the interior

[unfrozen1969]

I will have to speak with U-haul to determine how much a flat bed trailer weighs. I have to drive 4.5 hours o get my car this Spring, and it may be a bit of a strain on my my mini-van. I can always rent a truck from u-haul as well.

Thanks for your input.

Bill from Ottawa, where it is still snowing.

[bnickel]

glad to help.

[my69mach]

Try to get those cars off the ground and cover them or the moisture will eat them alive. I'm another Canadian and I grew up a mile from the Windsor salt mines, so I know what the harsh Canadian roads will do to cars from that area.
I'm now in Indiana and my 69 won't be seeing any salt as long as possible.
Good job finding the newly acquired convertible.

[unfrozen1969]

The unfortunate reeality is, that both of these cars do not have floors. I have both cars on jack to keep them level, as the tires don't hold air for very long. There is a lot of metal work there for someone who is adventurous.

My latest purchase is in much better shape, and will not be left outside for the elements to attack.

Nice to hear from you, and I bet you miss the winters....not..


Bill in Ottawa

[unfrozen1969]

Hello everyone,

I have to admit I have not driven a lot (any) classic cars, and I have a question about power steering.

Is it better to salvage a power steering set up from another classic, or to use an aftermarket product? The convertible that I am building is not a concourse car and I would like it to be a comfortable driver, so it it needs some modern additions then I am okay with that. Do you have any comments or suggestions?, as well as any further suggestions of other add on's such a disc brakes, etc. All of your comments would be appreciated.

Newbie Bill from Ottawa, Canada

[Gazoo]

Bill, when I rebuilt my Mach 1, I redid the OEM power steering with a rebuilt control valve, rebuilt power ram, and even had my original steering box professionally rebuilt. Even with all that, it still drove poorly and wandered all over the place. Driving it at highway speeds was a high-stress ordeal. I finally got fed up and built my own rack and pinion set up using an 87 Taurus rack, just to see if I could. It drove so much better on the highway that I was completely sold on the idea. I am now in the process of installing a Randall's Rack this winter. My advice would be not to spend a dime on the OEM power steering system and put that money towards a decent rack and pinion set up. Randall is in Kelowna, B.C., by the way. Though I have not yet done the install, I am very impressed with the quality of components he has supplied.

[bnickel]

i rebuilt my OE power steering and it works just fine, no real complaints about the system. when they work right they are actually pretty nice but getting them to work right can sometimes be a pain but if you use quality parts in the rebuild they work just fine, in other words don't use the cheapest stuff you can find. i re-did mine with all gates parts and or/rebuild kits and i'm very happy with it. once i get the alignment re-done after adding the monte carlo bar and export brace it should drive absolutely perfect.

that said, i have a TCP rack and pinion in the garage that will be going on the cougar project. less parts to leak and a better steering feel plus a quicker steering ratio will all be nice to have on a 40 year old car. the rack is not necessarily needed though but definitely a nice addition.

i will add though that if you were to rob all the power steering stuff from a granada it will work better than the stock original system. it the exact same style of power steering as the mustangs but it uses o-ring seals on all the hose connections and that helps a ton with the leaks that always seem to be present in the original mustang systems. you'll need the control valve, ram cylinder and hoses, everything else you can use the stock stang stuff, pump, gear box, etc.

[unfrozen1969]

Can you not purchase a 1990's mustang GT or 5.0 and salvage parts such as power steering etc for the classic car. How hard is it to retro fit? The same goes with the front suspension and motor, and brakes, I would imagine it has been done before, but is anyone aware of how common and how difficult it is?

Thanks for responding to my questions.

Regards,

Bill

[bnickel]

Can you not purchase a 1990's mustang GT or 5.0 and salvage parts such as power steering etc for the classic car. How hard is it to retro fit? The same goes with the front suspension and motor, and brakes, I would imagine it has been done before, but is anyone aware of how common and how difficult it is?

Thanks for responding to my questions.

Regards,

Bill


engine and trans will swap and if it's a 5 lug car you can use the rear brakes with a bracket kit and the 2 piston PBR calipers from a 99-up stang will work with a bracket kit also. the steering stuff won't work and neither will the suspension stuff. also, if it's a 4.6 car the engine and trans won't work either

[Gazoo]

Bill
You certainly could use the 5.0 and trans, lots of us have done that. The suspension and steering is completely different, (Fox uses a front steer spindle, the classic Mustangs are rear steer spindles.) The closest kit I've seen is the one from FatMan Fabrications which uses Fox (or SN95) Mustang front struts and spindles/brakes and a Tempo/Escort rack. There are lots of good aftermarket suspension and steering setups, your only limit is your bank account. Frankly, the stock suspension will work just fine, it's just the steering that could use improvement. You can rebuild your whole front suspension with new everything for about $500 in parts, (not counting the steering.)

[unfrozen1969]

I read somewhere on this site, where someone thought that there should be a place where all of this knowledge that you guys have could be kept.

There maybe value in 69stang.com creating its own wiki where members could edit and update topic headings such as we have been discussing on this thread. It could then be used as a reference for those of us why are new at this and could definitely use the wiki as a resource.

I have to admit, through all of my searching on mustang sites, I have yet to come across a mustang wiki.

Just a thought.

Thanks for your comments guys, I have a ton to learn, and it is a little bit daunting, but I am up to the challenge.

Heck it only takes time and money, and as my brother Bob always says, "you can't take it with you, so you might as well spend it."

Regards,

Bill from Ottawa

[bnickel]

that's a good idea really but i for one wouldn't know where to begin, i'm not all that computer savvy. i can surf the 'net like nobody's business though.

[unfrozen1969]

I would imagine that who ever runs this site would have a good idea. WIKI's are supposedly easy to modify by the user, but their are conditions or rules placed upon the user to post only legitimate things, etc...

Who would one contact for this site to develop such a thing?

Bill

[bnickel]

I would imagine that who ever runs this site would have a good idea. WIKI's are supposedly easy to modify by the user, but their are conditions or rules placed upon the user to post only legitimate things, etc...

Who would one contact for this site to develop such a thing?

Bill

that would be Bswor, he is the owner of the site. i just work here so to speak

[unfrozen1969]

Question:

Are Shelby side scoops produced aftermarket? How difficult are they to modify to a 69 convertible.

Bill

[Pakrat]

Many places offer the scoops but they are not all created equal. I recommend getting them from Tony Branda. They can be as easy to install as you want depending on how well you want them to fit and if you want to drill new holes for them or adapt the holes from the original scoops to them. Click on my sig pic to go to my gallery, I have many pics through out it of various stages of installing them from out of the box to paint.

[bnickel]

i'd get the from Mustangs Unlimited, Tony Branda or Maier Racing and no one else unless they sell the Maier racing flares. Mustang Depot may have the Maier ones at a decent price. mine came from NPD and they were absolutely horrible, the holes for the screens weren't even cut out but they were the only ones anyone had in stock that i could afford. i normally get most of my stuff from mustangs unlimited but they were out of them and they were on backorder from the manufacturer

[unfrozen1969]

Funny that you should mention that Bryan, I was just looking in their catalogue and saw that they had them on sale. Of the side scoops that you guys recommend, is there a brand name or serial/reference code for them?

I have read on some threads about how you guys are enjoying your cars, and I wanted you to know how I envy you all. I think I need to move to Florida or Texas.

My coral is knee deep in the white stuff.

Bill

[bnickel]

now that gives a completely different meaning to "drifting" your car right there......:biggrin:

no brand name other than the Maier racing ones, they make their own. the MU and Branda pieces i have no idea who makes them or even it's the same company that makes them, no part number or serial code that will help either, just 69/70 shelby convertible side scoops. not all of use are enjoying our cars right now. it snowed/iced/mini hailed here last night and has been raining all day. plus it realy hasn't been all that warm lately, a few nice days that would have been nice enough to cruise if the wind wasn't blowing 30+mph and relocating soil from new mexico to our back yards......:helpsmilie:

[unfrozen1969]

I caught the new and improved television show knightrider. The new mustang looks nice, and what a nice option it is to have where you can change paint color at a flick of the switch. I guess I missed that in the sales brochure.

Bill

[bnickel]

yeah but i have to think the new generation nano-electric paints will just immediately change colors and not do that crystalization thing. but maybe i'm just expecting too much

[unfrozen1969]

It is becoming a very long Winter, and I am itching at getting to my cars.

Bill from Ottawa

[Pakrat]

I hope you know you are making baby jesus cry right now. :crying:

[unfrozen1969]

I hope that this is Winter's last blast....

Bill from Ottawa

[unfrozen1969]

So they say that Spring is just one week away, but one would never know by looking outside.

So I have a 1969 Mustang convertible that I need to dismantle. I need a good number of parts from that car for the shell I have arriving in May. I need to know how to do the following things;

1. Remove a windshield.
2. How to remove the engine and transmisssion while the whole rear end is sitting on the ground. I don't think that there is anything left to jack the car up with.
3. Will a 351 that has been sitting for 8-10 years still be salvagable.
4. My rolling a shell was a V6, but I would like a V8. Is there any structural upgrades that need to be made for the shell to accept a V8. If I go big block then I need to reinforce the shock towers.

Thanks for any input.

Bill from Ottawa

[R4K]

Re:#4: One thing that I learned on my old pony was that the fuel line was different between the I6s and V8s. 5/16" vs 3/8", and the entry point into the engine compartment for the I6 is behind the front wheel, while on a V8 it's in front of the wheel well. I finally upgraded mine to the bigger tubing to feed the 390, and noticed that it entered into the engine bay much closer to where the fuel pump is located.

[bnickel]

motor should be salvageable but will likely need a rebuild after sitting open for so long, but you might get lucky.

i would jack the car up in the middle as best you can and shore it up with railroad timbers or something, they're good for landscaping when you're done using them for jackstands too.

take everything you can from both cars, wiring and plumbing, everything. unless you plan on holding onto the coupe for a while yet before deciding whether or not to completely part it out. but strip the vert to a bare shell, take as many nuts, bolts, screws, etc as you can get as well. this may seem a little overkill but you never know when you may need one of those miscellaneous parts when it comes time to reassamble the other car. also, even if something looks like junk and you plan on replacing it, keep it anyway so you can match it up with the new one to make sure you get the right one and also just in case it's something that's no longer available and you have to have it to restore or use as a pattern for a new one.


nothing that needs to be upgraded chassis wise, but i would go ahead and install the shock tower reinforcement kit anyway if you go with a 351 or bigger, subframe connectors are a good idea too, even just the bolt in ones. don't forget a one piece export brace as well

[unfrozen1969]

How rare are original front power disc brakes? I have considered selling the car as one unit without stripping it down, but the guy who is interested says he will just part it out anyways. I would imagine that there are lots of good parts on the coupe that I could use on convertible. Also I know that there is good glass, whatever that is valued at.

I would hate to sell the car off for a sum of money, and then end up spending more down the road to purchase parts back that I once had in my hand.

Bill

[bnickel]

personally i'd keep the coupe around until you get done or at least close to done with the vert, that way you'll have a bunch of stuff you might need for the vert project. i'd still like to have those door panels for my cougar molded door panel project too :shifty: and there may be other stuff i'd like to have on the way if you decide you want to part it out. if the guy you're thinking of selling it to is just going to part it out anyway then i'd do it yourself if that's what is going to happen to the car, personally i still think it's too rare to part out being a deluxe interior, PDB, AC, PS standard coupe, but that's just me, there can't be too many of those things left on the road after all these years.

[unfrozen1969]

I think that I will take your advice and sit on the coupe. I am fearful that there are a number of parts that I may need from it, and accessories like A/C and Power disc brakes etc, if they are salvageable. I want to part out the convertible and itemize all of the parts and make a master list of the parts I will have for the second convertible I am getting in May. After that I will sell off the extra parts for the items I think I may need.

Now I need to figure out a system of itemizing everything and keeping a master list.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

I am trying to build a table or spread sheet for cataloguing parts as they come off my parts car. I want to rate them whether they need restoration and maybe add a photo, and then put them away in a specific number box.

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding methodology ,etc.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Is there any special tricks for removing windshield glass. I have two cars that need glass removed. I was considering having a mobile glass guy come and pay him for his expertise, as I need the glass for my newer project. Are there any special identifiers on the glass to ensure that is orginal and has not been replaced in the past?

Bill from Ottawa

[Pakrat]

What you want to use is some strong but flexible wire like say piano wire or guitar string type wire even some picture frame wire would work, attach it to something sharp like a needle and thread and push it right thru the sealant. Now you have someone hold one end of the wire from the inside and one from the outside and just pull it across the sealant all around the whole window until you end where you started. The glass should then come right out but there are no guarantees when removing a windshield even from a pro, it can be tricky business.

As for ID there should be some ford type markings on the window somewhere if it is original still.

[unfrozen1969]

Thanks Pak,

If I am considering putting a 351 or a 390 in an original 6 cylinder, do I need to upgrade the springs on the front end. If I don't will the car ride a little lower and give it that lowered look? Is everything else the same on the front end.

Bill

[bnickel]

i'd replace the springs, the 6 cylinder springs are gonna be a little weak for a 351 and way weak for a 390 car, that is unless you plan on drag racing the car. i'd still replace the springs anyway, though.

[unfrozen1969]

I would imagine there is a special way to remove them from a car, is there much or any tension on them once the car is on a lift? then can they just be cut out.

Bill

[Pakrat]

Not advisable. The best way to do it is to rent/beg/borrow/buy a spring compressor. There are even directions online to make your own homemade version. Even in the air they are under load, not worth tearing your face off over. Most automotive stores in the USA like Autozone actually offer free rentals of these type of specialty tools.

[Legion]

Let me second the need to have a set of spring compressors...I almost tore my face off as a young kid...should have listened to my uncle :whistling:. The sad thing is, I was in his shop with every tool imaginable at my disposal...but hey, I knew everything when I was 17 :blink:

[R4K]

I think I got mine from NPD for around $40. I used it twice on each side when I had my pony, and was worth every cent.

[bnickel]

the new tony branda catalog has a couple different ways to make one in the back of the catalog, if you're really cheap you can use the shock and spring perch and substitute some extra long bolt in place of the little short shock bolts and some small diameter steel tubing to make one. like i said just replace the top 2 shock mounting bolts with some that are like 2.5" long or so and some short pieces of steel tubing and voila, instant spring compressor.

you can order the catalog at www.cobranda.com (http://www.cobranda.com), i think they are still free at the moment but that won't last long so you'd better hurry.

[Pakrat]

the new tony branda catalog has a couple different ways to make one in the back of the catalog, if you're really cheap you can use the shock and spring perch and substitute some extra long bolt in place of the little short shock bolts and some small diameter steel tubing to make one. like i said just replace the top 2 shock mounting bolts with some that are like 2.5" long or so and some short pieces of steel tubing and voila, instant spring compressor.

you can order the catalog at www.cobranda.com (http://www.cobranda.com), i think they are still free at the moment but that won't last long so you'd better hurry.

You don't even need the catalog, the PDF is available online as I mentioned before: http://site.cobranda.com/tech/spring.pdf

[bnickel]

oops, guessed i missed that sorry bro. that's exactly what's in the catalog.

[Pakrat]

oops, guessed i missed that sorry bro. that's exactly what's in the catalog.

You just watch your :asshole: Mr. or I'll tell the Mod's on you. :tongue_smilie:

[bnickel]

You just watch your :asshole: Mr. or I'll tell the Mod's on you. :tongue_smilie:


yeah, i heard those mods are real sticklers around here.....:biggrin:

[unfrozen1969]

Well I have finally had the chance to do some dismantling, and low and behold the whole front engine compartment is held together with welded angle iron. It would appear by all of the sand in the engine compartment, that this car went through a restoration back in the day before repo parts were made.

Is the windshield for a 69 convertible the same as the coupe?

Happy motoring.

Bill

[Pakrat]

I'm just noticing those shock tower braces, yikes!!!! Looks like some bars cut off from an old swing set or something.

[bnickel]

looks like someone was setting that car up for the demolition derby or smoething......actually that could explain a lot about this car.....:blink:

[Gazoo]

Sweeeeeet!! Yipes, that's creative welding gone too far.

Bill, I'm pretty sure you have Princess Auto stores in Ontario. Princess is a great place to buy specialty auto tools, welding gear, sandblasting stuff, buffing wheels, tools of all descriptions, hardware, surplus stuff, gokart wheels, riding mower seats, pumps, hoses, hydraulics, wiring parts etc. etc. etc. for cheap. I bought my spring compressors there for about $20. When I'm feeling down, I go spend an hour in Princess Auto and I always come back cheered up after finding some sort of gem. www.princessauto.com (http://www.princessauto.com)

[unfrozen1969]

Thanks for the advice, I will check with my local Princess Auto.

Do you know if the glass from a coupe will fit into a convertible? I thought that I had read that it is the same.

Bill

[Gazoo]

Not sure - I suspect it would. However, your local auto glass shop should be able to tell you.

[bnickel]

Thanks for the advice, I will check with my local Princess Auto.

Do you know if the glass from a coupe will fit into a convertible? I thought that I had read that it is the same.

Bill


yes they are the same provided you are using either 69 OR 70 glass, you can't mix and match them. but i believe all three of your cars are 69 so you should be good so long as no one has converted one of them to the 70 bolt in glass. however if one of the cars has been converted to the 70 model bolt in glass and the car has all of that glass i would use that instead of the 69 glue in glass. it's really easy to tell the difference, look inside the door and see if the glass is actually bolted to to the glass brackets, if so then that is the 70 model glass. now don't confuse this with the window tracks or anything else though, you're only looking for the brackets that the window glass sits in and only on the door windows, 69 and 70 both use glue in 1/4 window glass but they are different lengths and correspond to the matching front windows. just though i'd throw that in there for you as something to look for.

[unfrozen1969]

Picked up my 69 convertible yesterday and got 'er home. It appears that it was in the middle of a restoration, as both rear quarters have been replaced, the whole car has been sand blasted and the front fenders have been stripped. The car is pretty much dismantled, and came with a bulk of the parts. I need to get some rust and welding dealt with and get this car into primer.

I am in the midst of itemizing and taking photos of each part, as I will have to post the parts on this website to determine what they are and where they go and to determine if they need ot be replaced or just cleaned up..so stay tuned.

Bill from Ottawa

[unfrozen1969]

More photos...

[unfrozen1969]

The car has been scatterly put back together with what ever size bolts etc that could be found. I have taken off the fenders and front bumper brackets, and only had one surprize of bad rust. I think that a metal plate can be mocked up rather than replacing the whole rail. Lots tearing down to do before the car is ready for blasting and priming.

Bill

[bnickel]

looks like a fairly solid project car but lot's of work too. i would suggest buying the frame outer rail sections and just trim what you need off of that. it would probably also be a good idea to order the complete bolt kit from AMK, you can get every single nut, bolt, screw, and clip to put it back together with, it's not exactly cheap but every fastener on the car would be brand new. well worth it for this car, i think, considering there's no telling how many and what fasteners you're missing

[unfrozen1969]

That is good advice, I will definitely have to order the bolt kit. The only other thing this car is missing is the front window VIN plate, can these be reproduced? If so, who does them?

Bill

[Arrowhead]

Interesting to see '69 parts layed out, and a convertable at that. I'm 95% complete reassembling my '70 coupe and I know most of the parts pretty well by now. There are quite a few differences.

[bnickel]

That is good advice, I will definitely have to order the bolt kit. The only other thing this car is missing is the front window VIN plate, can these be reproduced? If so, who does them?

Bill


ummmm, that's not good at all. the VIN plate IS THE CAR, without that all you have really is a parts car. do the title and the vin number on the fender apron match?

[unfrozen1969]

The VIN on the apron, door tag and the paperwork all match, all that is mssing is the metal VIN tag for the front window. I don't believe that it si legal to drive a car without a VIN being displayed. I am trying to get a hold of the previous owner who started the dismantling of this car to see if he knows where it maybe.

This could become a real pain.

Bill

[bnickel]

let's just hope the vin didn't get "reattached" to another car, then it could be a real pain for sure.

[unfrozen1969]

I got in touch with the previous owner who told me where to look to find the VIN Plate, and sure enough it was in the box of parts that were given to me. I missed it on the first scan of all of the parts.

That makes everything a little bit nicer. Now back to stripping this car down.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Sent you a PM Bryan. I can't load the photos because they exceed the allowable limit. Can you send me an email at unfrozen@rogers.com and I will send photos to you.

Regards,

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Just got back from the Burl Creek Automotive Flea Market just north of Barrie Ontario and I had a blast. I took me two days to see all of the vendors. I was able to buy a 1969 centre console in very nice condition. I made some good contacts for parts and future advice as well.

Bill

[bnickel]

i thought you already had a center console from the coupe, didn't you?

[unfrozen1969]

Nope, I had one form my convertible and sold to a guy in Texas, but that was before I bought my rolling shell form Calgary, so in essence, I sold something I eventually needed. The result is, that the console I bought was in better condition than my orginal, and I got it for cheaper. I guess centre consoles are rare. I do like that hood that is in the photos. I need a drivers side door and everyone says get an original or have one reskined instead of buying reproduction as they just don't fit the same. I had a great weekend, no 69 convertibles and only one coupe.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Is $250 a good price for that hood if I can get the scoop thrown in.

Bill

[bnickel]

if it's a rust free hood and you can get the scoop with all the stuff that goes with the scoop, grill and lights, then yes $250 is a good deal

[unfrozen1969]

I have been working hard to get the convertible apart by th eend of the Summer. I have worked from back to front, and probably should have pulled the engine first. Anyways, lots of parts to keep me busy over the Winter.

Tried putting the doors back ont he coupe. man are they a bitch. I was unsuccessful.

Bill

[bnickel]

wow, that's what i call picking the bones clean.....LOL

[unfrozen1969]

Now there's a project car for ya...eh!

Bill

[bnickel]

don't forget to yank that cleveland outta there. BTW, i noticed you haven't pulled the vert top switch out yet, f you aren't planning on using it i could use it for something i have planned on the cougar so i'll buy it from you....Let me know, please

[unfrozen1969]

Shouldn't be a problem, let me know and I can ship it with the hitch. I found a cougar convertible in really rough shape beside a barn, I believe it is a 69. I am waiting to get rid of the convertible I have before making an approach. I gather the majority of the parts are the same as the 69 mustang.

Bill

[bnickel]

sounds good, it's probably still going to be another couple of months before i can afford it, summer always sucks up all our income, but that switch would be great also. more than likely i won't use the switch itself but i will use the knob and if you can cut a few inches of the wiring harness and the connector for the switch that would be great also but the switch may prove to be useful yet.

there is a bunch of stuff you can use from the cougar vert. all 69-70 cougars will have a 9" rearend since the base engine was a 351 and it's a direct bolt in for a 69 stang. the seats and most of the interior are the same as are most of the vert top pieces. almost all of the suspension will swap over to the stang as well with the exception of the rear leaf springs since they are about 3 inches longer than the stangs. if you get it let me know, i may be interested in the door panels depending on which of the 3 style of cougar door panels it has.

[unfrozen1969]

I have a buddy who built his own car rotisserie using engine stands and it worked out quite well for him, and it was not too expensive.

See attached photos.

Bill

[Pakrat]

That is pretty much how the first one was created prior to it becoming an actual item.

[unfrozen1969]

What do you mean by it becoming an item, can you purchase extensions etc to mach up engine stands? Also, how would this work with a convertible, I would imagine I would need alot of interior bracing.

Bill

[bnickel]

what he means is that the original rotisserie systems were based on modified engine stands and before there was such a thing a commercially available rotisserie. i'm not aware of any place that sells parts to convert an engine stand over though, you'd be on your own for that. i think by far the coolest home made one i've seen though uses hydraulic rams from an engine hoist (cherry picker) that will lift the car off the ground instead of having to jack the car up and put it on really tall jackstands. pretty cool looking system.

do a google search for rotisserie plans and i'm sure you'll turn up a bunch of different designs.

[unfrozen1969]

Went to a car show tonight and only saw 4 1969 Mustangs, three fastbacks nad one coupe that looked really clean. It looks just like the parts car I have in my driveway, see photos attached.

I wanted to thank whoever it was who recommended a fellow Mustanger from London Ontario to get a hold of me. He was looking for outer rails form a 69 convertible, and I was able to get them cut out and we met in north Toronto a few weeks back. I was able to swap them for a nice and clean 69 original hood. The guy I got them from has numerous Cougar parts cars if anyone is looking for parts.

Thanks again,

Bill

[bnickel]

nice looking coupe. i especially like the way he painted his wheels to make them look like 69 boss 302 magnum 500's. sharp.

cougar parts cars eh? i'll be needing some deluxe woodgrain door and rear interior panels for my 69 when i get ready to start in on the cougar. still have to get the stang sold before that can happen though

[Pakrat]

Went to a car show tonight and only saw 4 1969 Mustangs, three fastbacks nad one coupe that looked really clean. It looks just like the parts car I have in my driveway, see photos attached.

I wanted to thank whoever it was who recommended a fellow Mustanger from London Ontario to get a hold of me. He was looking for outer rails form a 69 convertible, and I was able to get them cut out and we met in north Toronto a few weeks back. I was able to swap them for a nice and clean 69 original hood. The guy I got them from has numerous Cougar parts cars if anyone is looking for parts.

Thanks again,

Bill

If it was Racer07 in this thread than that might have been me and if so than you are more than welcome: http://www.1969stang.com/mustang/forum/showthread.php?t=4679

I tend to remember odd bits of obscure information from the threads I read whether I want to or not and since that talent is just about useless in most practical applications I like to at least use it to pair up members needs whenever possible.

Besides, perhaps some day, and this day may never come, you will be in the position to me a favor.

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/2007/12/16-22/marlon-brando_godfather-johnny-depp-tim-burton-i-knew-it-was-you.png

[unfrozen1969]

Pak, I read your thread, and it was Dan who contacted me. So thanks again, it worked out really well.

As for owing you a favour,,,,,wasn't there a TV show a few years ago about a guy who earned favours and then went around recalling them when he needed help....etc. So when ever you are up in Canada, eh, I am willing to assist you.

I am only kidding, I am more than willing to assist a fellow 69stang member.

Bryan, if and when you need cougar parts, here is the guys email, he lives north of Toronto Ontario and has at least 7 cougars from what I saw. (briansmustangparts@hotmail.com)

Regards,

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Here are some pics of my convertible, I have been prepping it for sandblasting and undercoating. I have to get this done before the snow flies.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Gettin' my convertible sand blasted tomorrow, I will post some before and after shots. The I will concentrate in getting it into primer before the Winter.

Bill from Ottawa

[unfrozen1969]

In the saga of a Mustang restoration, there is nothing nicer than getting the car down to bare metal. I have attached some before and after photos.

[Pakrat]

[quote=unfrozen1969;41361]In the saga of a Mustang restoration, there is nothing nicer than getting the car down to bare metal.quote]

You say that now, but wait until you see it smoothed out and sporting fresh paint.:shifty:

[unfrozen1969]

Sorry about the lack of after photos, I had some computer issues.

[unfrozen1969]

Now that I am finally at bare metal, time to get some primer on..is it true that speaker cut outs in the door are a rare option?

[bnickel]

tes the door speakers are fairly rare, well really fairly uncommon actually. they were only available on a car that was ordered with the stereo option

[Pakrat]

tes the door speakers are fairly rare, well really fairly uncommon actually. they were only available on a car that was ordered with the stereo option

How can you really tell original vs. added though? Lots of cars had them added over the years, some bad hacks and some clean installs.

[bnickel]

How can you really tell original vs. added though? Lots of cars had them added over the years, some bad hacks and some clean installs.


a marti report would tell you, if the car came with either stereo option it would have had the door speakers

[Legion]

Did you blast it yourself (is that you in the photo's) or did you pay to have it done? Interested in what the cost.

[unfrozen1969]

I looked into doing the blasting myself, I found a place where I could rent the equipment and everything, and it was about $300.00 a day. I could have also taken it to a place, but I don't have a hauler so that was a hassle. I found this mobile sand blaster through a sand supplier. I couldn't find a mobile blaster advertised, so I thought, why not ask suppliers who they know are in the mobile blasting business. This guy was really good. He used a silica based product, and he charged me $400.00 for 4 hours of work and did a greta job, they car turned out better than I could have imagined. I figured that it ws worth the time and trouble, and it really is a labour intensive process.

I will have to have a marti report done on my car to determine whether the car came with a stereo option. I will let you know.

[Jay H 237]

If your car is a Dearborn or Metuchen built and still has it's buck tag it will be on there whether or not it had stereo speakers originally.

All Metuchen cars had "LP"

Dearborn had "AM" for a AM/FM stereo radio and "ST" for the AM/8 track option.


Yes, they could have been added later by an owner or even the dealer could have changed the radio and added them per a buyers request or to help move a stagnant car on the lot.

[unfrozen1969]

Well, it was a little bit over cast, but it stayed dry and I took the opportunity to spray my car. I used an apoxy primer and it worked out quite well. My gun did get gummed up a little bit near the end, and thankfully I was pretty much done.

"there's nothing better than to get your car into primer"...

[jkskinsfan]

"there's nothing better than to get your car into primer"...

I know the feeling well. Looking great, Unfrozen.

[bnickel]

looks good

[unfrozen1969]

Does anyone know if there is a registry for 1969 convertibles?

I have yet to locate one.

Bill

[Pakrat]

Does anyone know if there is a registry for 1969 convertibles?

I have yet to locate one.

Bill

Not that I am aware of but I can't really say I have looked all that hard. There used to be one for the GT but even that has gone wayside.

[unfrozen1969]

Well I've done some checking and the only registry that I could find was in Quebec, but the link is no longer active, so I'm not sure how successful it was.

I was considering starting one, but I don't know how it would be set up. What are other registries like? You obviously provide particulars about your car, but do they take your name etc.... and does everyone have access to everyone else's information. Is there usually a fee to register a car.

I think it would be cool to find out how many of the 14746 mustang convertibles still exist. I know of one that is no longer around, and I have a solid second one, so that's two...

I have put my car away for the Winter, I was really pleased to get it into primer before Fall came.

Bill

[Pakrat]

There are lots of other mustang registries you can check out for ideas. They have them for the Boss cars, the Shelby's, Just about any special like the California and the Twister etc......

[unfrozen1969]

I like the way that the BOSS Registry is set up, there is a ton of info and is quite in depth.

Now all I have to do is find the time.

Bill

[unfrozen1969]

Has anyone seen an engine compartment for a 69 Mustang that is totally black. I mean no chrome, or brushed metal or anything on the motor as well. If so, can you post one here, I am thinking of going that route with my convertible.

Bill in Ottawa

[Legion]

The closest I've seen to what your talking about is Bud Brutsman's '69 Mach I called blackened. You can find videos on WebRidesTV.com. They have a little video segment, but I haven't been able to find many pics on the car. I did find one in an article that I pulled off of some website a while back. Hope this helps.

3693

I have a buddy that found an old IH (1945 I believe) truck in a field that he's restoring. He's doing exactly what you want to do...everything black, no chrome what-so-ever. He's named the truck 'Anti-Chrome' and he'll be using it to tow an Indy Cycle he built. The last time I saw the truck he was custom fabbing the frame...but he stated he's got a rolling chassis now and has the motor built already. Next time I make it down his way (about 1.5hrs away), I'll make sure and snap some pics.

[bnickel]

Has anyone seen an engine compartment for a 69 Mustang that is totally black. I mean no chrome, or brushed metal or anything on the motor as well. If so, can you post one here, I am thinking of going that route with my convertible.

Bill in Ottawa


we generally call those used car lot specials..... where some guy goes crazy with a spray gun and pint of black paint.

you really need something to break it all up, aluminum intake, water pump chrome dipstick, brake master cylinder lid, radiator cap, oil caps, etc. just something to provide some contrast

[Pakrat]

we generally call those used car lot specials..... where some guy goes crazy with a spray gun and pint of black paint.

you really need something to break it all up, aluminum intake, water pump chrome dipstick, brake master cylinder lid, radiator cap, oil caps, etc. just something to provide some contrast

I agree, in the end it comes out looking like a cheapo rattle can clean up that someone couldn't be bothered to use a roll of masking tape on. It needs a little something here and there to show that there was thought in it.

[unfrozen1969]

I look forward to see whatever photos you can get. I see what you guys mean, but if the right parts are powder coated and the engine compartment is clean, there is no way someone would think that it was a spray can special. I also think that the condition of the rest of the car would alo indicate that it is not a spray can special. Anyways, I would love to see what ever photos there are.

Thanks.

Bill

[cphsonic]

It's personal taste but I'd have to agree: all black needs something to offset it. Didn't like Blackened when it was first shown, not enough accents or contrast. I'm doing my GT2 engine bay in all shiny black & black hoses but intake, valve covers, water pump, pulleys etc. are matte aluminum to get proper contrast.

[bnickel]

It's personal taste but I'd have to agree: all black needs something to offset it. Didn't like Blackened when it was first shown, not enough accents or contrast. I'm doing my GT2 engine bay in all shiny black & black hoses but intake, valve covers, water pump, pulleys etc. are matte aluminum to get proper contrast.


now that should be pretty cool, just enough contrast to make it look like an engine and not a big black blob....no offense unfrozen.


maybe do it all black with a touch of ford blue or body color and maybe a little chrome or aluminum accent.